Spark-plug cable terminal



Dec. 31, 1929. A. v. D. WILLGOOS 1,741,667

SPARK PLUG CABLE TERMINAL Filed Nov. 19, 1&2

5 INVENTDR. 5 Andrew 7.5 74 27) 006 Fatentecl Dec. 31, 1929 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ANDREW V. D. WILLGOOS,

OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE PRATT &

SPARK-PIQUG CABLE TERMINAL Application filed. November 19, 1927. Serial No. 234,370.

This invention relates to sp ark-plugs for internal. combustion engines, but more particularly to an ignition-cable terminal therefor, and the invention has for its object to provide a device of this class wherein the member which engages the spark-plug terminal is positively locked to said spark-plug terminal as distinguished from the usual practice of effecting its retention thereto by a spring or resilient means.

In spark plug ignition cable terminals with which I am familiar, the same, for the most part, embodying elements of various type which are designed to slip or snap over or on the spark-plug terminal so that the retention of the device on the spark-plug depends upon the tension of a spring. In service and under the influence of vibration, such ignition-cable terminals frequently become detached from the spark-plugs to which they were attached, which detachment cuts out the ignition to the cylinder or cylinders to which the detached cable or cables lead, to the end that the operation of the engine is very seriously impaired.

It is an object of this invention to overcome this tendency to detachment of the ignitioncable terminal from the spark-plug, by pro viding a positive locking connection between the cable terminal and the spark-plug terminal so that the cable terminal cannot under any conditions of service from the spark-plug, but which, at the same time, will permit the ready manual disconnection of the cable terminal from the sparkplug terminal whenever desired.

A further object of the invention is to provide such an ignition-cable terminal which is light in Weight, simple and cheap to manufacture, strong, durable and efficient.

I/Vith these objects in view, the invention consists of the novel details of construction, and in certain combinations of parts, all of which will be first fully described and afterwards specifically pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawing:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a sparkplug ignition-cable terminal constructed in accordance With this invention;

become detached is a side elevation of the same;

Figure 3 is a horizontal longitudinal sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken on line 4% of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a top plan view illustrating the manner of attachment of the cable-terminal to a spark-plug terminal;

Figure 6 is a similar View illustrating the position of the parts just prior to the final locking operation; and

Figure 7 is a similar view illustrating the cable-terminal in its final locked position on the spark-plug terminal.

Like numerals of reference indicate the same parts throughout the several figures in which:

1 indicates a spark-plug-ignition cable, and 2 indicates the terminal therefor.

The terminal 2 includes an insulating tubular socket 3 which receives a thin tubular metallic socket 4; (Figure 3), the outer end 5 of which latter socket is provided with an aperture 6, and a flange 7, which is rolled back upon an eye portion 8 formed in the sparkplug-terminal-engaging member 9, as illustrated in the drawing.

In attaching the cable terminal 2 to the cable 1, the said cable is inserted in the tubular sockets 8 and 4:, and the wires of the cable 1, may be projected through the said aperture 6 and soldered therein at 11, as for instance, as shown in Figure 3.

Figure 2 Referring to the spark-plug-terminal-engaging member 9, the same is preferably formed of a suitable spring wire, and in the shape as illustrated in the drawing, which illustration shows this member 9 to have the hereinbefore referred to eye portion 8 formed at one end of the member and at right angles to the plane of the body of the said member 9. The body of the member 9 in cludes the two substantially parallel portions 12 and 18, which define an elongated space 14 between them of less width than the rounded space 16 defined by the rounded end 17 of the said member 9; while the said portion 12 terminates in a transverse hook 18 adapted to engage the said portion 13 at a point adjacent the said eye portion 8 as shown in the drawing.

Having thus described the invention, its operation is as follows:

In the type of sparkplugs to which this cable terminal is particularly adapted, the spark-plug terminal 19 has been standardized in essential particulars, and includes an annular neck or groove, the same being disposed under a flange, though it is to be understood that my terminal is in no manner restricted as to size and that the same may be constructed and formed to fit and accommodate itself to any variations in the size of the spark-plug terminal. However, I prefer to form the body 9 of my terminal of a spring Wire which will lie within the said annular neck or groove of the spark-plug terminal without excessive longitudinal play between these parts, but which will permit easy application of the said body 9 to the said annular neck or groove in the spark-plug terminal.

In order to apply the cable terminal 2 to the spark-plug terminal 19, the substantially parallel portions 12 and 13 of the Wire body 9 are sprung together and the hook 18 of the portion 12 is disengaged from the portion 18, so that these parts assume the position shown in Figure 5. lVhen in this position, the spark-plug terminal 19 is inserted in position shown in Figure 5, the portions 12 and 13 lying within the said annular neck or groove of the spark plug terminal 19. lVhen in this position, the cable terminal 2 is moved relatively to the spark-plug terminal 19, until the said terminal 19 lies within the rounded space 16 at the rounded end 17 of the cable terminal '2 as shown in Figure '6. When the parts .are in this position, the portions 12 and 13 oi'the body "9 are again sprung together so that the hook 18 passes under the portion 13, and assumes its final locking position shown in Figure 7.

lVliile this cable terminal freely permits a swivelling movement of the same around the axis of the spark-plug terminal to permit the ignition cable to assume a free and .unstraine'd position with respect to the spark-plug, it cannot be dislodged or disconnected by vibration, nor otherwise than by manually reversing the process by which it is applied and locked to the spark-plug terminal.

Having'tlrus fully described the invention,

1 do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the exact construction herein set forth, as I consider myself clearly entitled to all such changes and modlflcations that fall Within the limit and scope of the appended claims.

cluding a tubular cable receiving socket of insulating material, a tubular metallic socket within the same, the outer end of the metallic socket having an aperture and including a rolled flange, a spark-plug-terminal-engaging member of spring wire, said member including an eye portion at one end lying within said rolled flange and disposed at right angles to the body of the said member, the body of said member including two substantially parallel portions and a rounded end portion,-

the width of the enlongated space defined by said substantially parallel portions being less than the rounded space defined by said rounded end portion, one of said substantially parallel portions including and terminating in a hook lying transversely of the device and normally in engagement with the other of said substantially parallel portions.

2. A device of the character described including a tubular cable receiving socket of insulating material, a tubular metallic socket within the same, the outer end of the metallic socket having an aperture and including a rolled flange, a spark-plug-terminal-engaging member of spring wire, said member including an eye portion at one end lying within said rolled flange and disposed at right angles to the body of the said member, the body of said member including two substantially parallel portions and a rounded end portion, the width of the elongated space defined by said substantially parallel portions being less than the rounded space defined by the rounded end portion, one of said substantially parallel portions including means for eflecting .a locking engagement with the other of said substantially parallel portions.

3. A device of the character described including a tubular cable receiving socket of insulating material, a tubular metallic socket within the same, the outer end of the metallic socket having an aperture and including a rolled flange, a spark-plug-terminal-engaging member of spring wire, said member including an eye portion at one end lying within said rolled flange and disposed at right angles to the body of the said member, the body of said member including two substantially parallel portions and a rounded end portion, one of which includes and terminates in a hook lying transversely of the device and normally in engagement with the other 01'' said substantially parallel portions.

4t. A device of the character described including a tubular cable receiving socket of insulating material, a tubular metallic socket within the same, the outer end of the metallic socket having an aperture and including a rolled flange, a spark-plug-terminaleengaging member of spring wire, said member including an eye portion at one end lying within said rolled flange, the body of said member including two substantially parallel portions, one of which includes and terminates in means for effecting a locking engagement with the other of said substantially parallel portions.

5. A device of the character described including a tubular cable receiving socket, the outer end of which has an aperture and includes a rolled flange, a wire spark-plugterminal-engaging member including an eye portion at one end lying within said rolled flange, and including two substantially parallel portions and an end portion, one of said substantially parallel portions including and terminating in a hook lying transversely of the device and normally in engagement with the other of the said substantially parallel portions.

6. A device of the character described including a tubular cable receiving socket, the outer end of which has an aperture and includes a rolled flange, a wire spark-plugterminal-engaging member including an eye portion at one end lying within said rolled flange, and including two substantially parallel portions and an end portion, one of said substantially parallel portions including means for effecting a locking engagement with the other of said substantially parallel portions.

7. A device of the character described including a tubular cable receiving socket, a rolled flange at its outer end, a wire sparkplug-terminal-engaging member including an eye portion at one end lying within said rolled flange and including two substantially parallel portions and an end portion, one of said substantially parallel portions including and terminating in a hook lying transversely of the device and normally in engagement with the other of said substantially parallel portions.

8. A device of the character described including a tubular cable receiving socket, a rolled flange at its outer end, a wire sparkplug-terminal-engaging member including an eye portion at one end lying within said rolled flange, and including two substantially parallel portions and an end portion, one of said substantially parallel portions including means for effecting a locking engagement with the other of said substantially parallel portions.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

ANDREW V. D. WILLGOOS. 

